Important Current Affairs 20th October 2018 English

Awards

Piyush Goyal to receive Carnot prize

Recognising the pathbreaking transformations in India’s energy sector under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design is awarding its fourth annual Carnot Prize to Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Coal and former Minister of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Government of India.

Carnot Prize
The Carnot Prize is the Kleinman Center’s annual recognition of distinguished contributions to energy policy through scholarship or practice. The most prestigious award in the energy sector, Carnot Prize is named after French physicist Nicolas Sadi Carnot who recognised that the power of the steam engine would “produce a great revolution” in human development. The Carnot Prize is intended to honour those leading revolutions in energy policy to further progress and prosperity.

10-year-old from Jalandhar wins 'Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year' award
 
Ten-year-old Arshdeep Singh from Jalandhar has won the Junior Asian Wildlife Photographer award, in the 10-years-and-under category. It was his candid snap of an owlet popping out of a waste-pipe that clinched the title.
The photograph ‘Pipe Owl’ earned him much applause at the award ceremony held at the Natural History Museum, London. 

Sports

World Wrestling Championships begins in Budapest, Hungary
 
World Wrestling Championships begin in Budapest, Hungary today. Asian Games gold medalist Bajrang Punia will be India's best bet for a medal as a 30-member team seeks a strong performance at the event. Bajrang had won a bronze at the Championships in 2013.
Important:
UWW United World Wrestling is the Amateur Wrestling World Championship organized by the United World Wrestling.
The Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling tournament began in 1904, and the Men's Freestyle Wrestling tournament began in 1951. The Women's Freestyle championships were first staged in

International News

1987.Turkey to host 4-nation summit on Syria crisis
 
A summit between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Russia will be held in Istanbul this month to discuss the conflict in Syria and efforts for a lasting solution to the war in the Arab country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have confirmed their participation in the summit.
Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said it will take place on October 27.

Rwanda names 50 percent female Cabinet, following Ethiopia

Rwanda, the East African nation, announced gender-balanced Cabinets with 50% women. 
The East African nation announced that women now make up half of the slimmed-down, 26-seat Cabinet.
Rwanda joins a handful of countries, mostly European, where women make up 50 % or more of ministerial positions, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women.
The country has received international recognition for female representation in government, with women making up 61% of Parliament.

India, Japan, U.S. plan joint air exercise

India, Japan and the U.S. are set to elevate the bilateral ‘Cope India’ air exercise to a trilateral format. The three countries already conduct naval war games under the expanded Malabar naval exercise.
Cope India was first conducted in 2004 and has grown in scope with the involvement of fighter aircraft and force multipliers such as Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS), but has been held only intermittently.
This elevation of the air exercise is similar to the Malabar naval exercise. Malabar began in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the U.S. 

National News

PM to hoist Tricolour on Oct 21 at Red Fort
 
The Prime Minister of India, Shri  Narendra Modi, would be hoisting the National flag and unveiling the plaque to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the formation of Azad Hind Government on 21st October, 2018, at the Red Fort, Delhi.
Important:
The Azad Hind Government, founded on 21st October, 1943 was inspired by Neta ji Subhash Chandra Bose who was the leader of Azad Hind Government and also the Head of State of this Provisional Indian Government-in-exile. 
It was a part of the freedom movement, originating in 1940s outside India with a purpose of allying with Axis powers to free India from British rule. 

Assam celebrates Kati Bihu festival
 
Assam's third Bihu festival, known as Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu, was being celebrated across the state on 18th October.
The festival derives its name from the Assamese month of Kati officials said, adding, this is a much sombre festival when compared to the other two Bihu festivals of the state - the Rongali and Bohagi Bihu.

The festival is held at this time of the year since the granaries of the farmers usually remain empty and therefore it is known as Kongali (poor) Bihu.